3 John 1:4-6

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 

⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,^a]even though they are strangers to you. ⁶ They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

Observation

As a parent, verse 4 rung sweetly true; what a gift that would be – the joy of seeing my children walking in truth, living in a way that shares their love (an abundance and overflowing of the God-given love within) and living in a way that honors God.

Understanding

As a parent, verse 4 rung sweetly true; what a gift that would be – the joy of seeing my children walking in truth, living in a way that shares their love (an abundance and overflowing of the God-given love within) and living in a way that honors God.  And that starts with living a life of example – not just to our born and adopted children but to those we have leadership over or even just encounter. 

Life Application

We have an opportunity to start a ripple effect with each encounter…sharing God’s love with others, living in a way that honors Him, living in truth.  People are searching, let us be the answer!

God, use me today!  Give me your heart for others, may I honor you in speech and in action.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

-Rei

Scripture  

2 John 1:5-6  Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.  And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.  This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.  

I once had lofty goals of parenting.  My kids were going to change the world, be presidents and doctors etc.  I quickly learned the most two most important goals I have as a parent are simple: show them the love of Jesus Christ and teach them to show it to others.  There are other important lessons, but the ramifications of those really only last during this lifetime.  

Someone once asked Jesus what the most important commandment was.  In short he answered it like this, “Love God and love others.”  (Matthew 22:36-40)  The love that we show each other, and for those who are marginalized in society, displays the heart of God.  Jesus came to die for the whole world (John 3:16), even those we don’t necessarily want to show love to (Matthew 5:44).  This even applies to young siblings.

Scripture 

1 Samuel 3:7

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

Observation – What does it say?

Samuel ministered before the Lord in the temple under Eli. God called to Samuel 3 times, and each time he thought the voice was Eli’s. 

Understanding – What does it mean?

Sometimes when God speaks, we mistake his voice for another.

As Samuel discovered that what sounded like Eli’s voice was actually God speaking, that day I learned that many times what I perceive to just be my own thoughts, are actually the voice of God. When I have ideas to do something good, to encourage someone, to pray for the girl with crutches at the grocery store, to share Jesus with someone at the gym, those thoughts don’t originate with me! And, I highly doubt Satan would be wanting me to do those things! So if it’s not Satan and it’s not me, it must be that God is the one speaking those thoughts and ideas.

Life Application

Ask God to help me discern his voice better. 

Happy New Year! 2019!

King David had fled from Saul because Saul intended to kill him (See 1 Samuel 20:30-34). However, David had found himself in a similar predicament when he fled to Achish, king of Gath. His troubles had followed him. As a result, David pretended to be insane in order to be set free because he was “very much afraid of Achish..” (1 Samuel 21:12). This is when he wrote Psalm 56. He was crying out to God because his enemies were in hot pursuit of him. He was encouraging himself out of his fear by remembering Who he must put his trust in and how mere mortals can do him no harm when God is on his side.  

Heading into a new year can be a joyous time, but also a fearful time for some. For some, it can mean new beginnings. For others, it may cause fear of what the new year may hold; Fear of the unknown. Regardless of the emotions that heading into a new year may bring, we must remember that as long as our trust and hope remains on Jesus Christ, it will be a great year and we can worship and be thankful because He remains good all the time!  Dear Lord, we invite You into this new year, of new seasons and new beginnings. We have faith that no matter what this year brings, it will be good because You are always good. Amen. Please listen to this song, You are My Hiding Place by Selah. https://youtu.be/_dR0H0tAYT8

Scripture

Ruth 4:4-6 ⁴ I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you^[b] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said. ⁵ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the^[c] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” ⁶ At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” Observation-What does it say?

[Now that we’ve had the “long, slow walk through Ruth” (courtesy of PG), this story holds a new meaning and interest for me.]  As we know, Boaz had been smitten when he saw Ruth in the field; but he upheld tradition with honor, seeking out the appropriate process and associated guardian-redeemer to give him the opportunity to claim what was “rightfully his” [according to the times] – to include both land and Ruth.

Understanding-What does it mean?

This is a beautiful love story – one built on honor, respect and obedience.  Just as PG had done in his sermon series, it’s also a great assimilation of the story of God, sending His son, Jesus, as the bridegroom – bearing our sins that we may have eternal life in heaven. 

Even as amazing as Ruth was – a woman of character, a hard worker, a caretaker for Naomi – she was seen as a potential “endangerment” to the designated guardian-redeemer’s estate.  An “endangerment” that Boaz was glad to take on because he saw her as valuable – not as property, but as a partner and someone he wanted in his life for the rest of it. 

The reason this struck me is…even as broken, unworthy, sin-filled humans, God sees us as valuable, lovable and people he wants to partner with (as we submit, we become His hands and feet in the world) and spend the rest of His life with (eternity).  It’s truly the greatest love story ever told! <3

Life Application

God, thank you for loving me and choosing me just as I am – in all my imperfection.  I’m grateful that we don’t have to be “good enough” to be chosen, to be sought after, to be loved!  Teach me to love like that.  Use me to let people know they are seen, valued, loved…not by me, but by a heavenly Father with a Father’s heart for them.

Big love to you above! <3

-Rei

Scripture:  1John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Observation-What does it say?  Though it is not labeled directly, the authorship of this letter is attributed to the apostle John.  The style and authoritative tone are strikingly similar to that in the fourth gospel.  In this letter, John addresses ideas and philosophies that were creeping into the church.  Much like today, the church was facing pressures from outside groups to incorporate things that were contrary to the gospel.  On top of that, some of those who were the most vocal of making these changes had abandoned the regular meetings, proposing that their spirituality had progressed beyond this.  

Understanding-What does it mean?  I took an art history class once, which was both fun and highly frustrating.  Some of the “opinions” of the meanings of different pieces of art, and the time periods they were made in, were swayed by the political and moral leanings of both the professor and the author of the text.  But I digress.  In the class we discussed the modern art movement and “art for art’s sake.”  The major theme in the modern art movement, which started in the late 19th century and carries through today, was the autonomy of art and the artists freedom of expression.  In other words, the art only needs to be an expression of the artist to be art, there was no longer the need to have any quality or mastery of form.  

And so, without any attention paid to form, purpose and true meaning, we are left with a cheap imitation of true art.  Where art was once defined by pieces like the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, we now see art in the form of “Lipstick urinals” https://collections.lacma.org/node/177865.  Similarly, we can experience the same cheapening in life when our focus is drawn away from truth.

The Christmas season used to be depressing for me, and for many it still is.  When the season is separated from the hope brought into the world through the birth of the messiah, we are left with celebrating for celebration sake.  The focus is then put on the presents and food, which always left me searching for more.  But when we remember that the birth of Jesus is where our hope begins, we can continue to celebrate on through the year and into eternity of the wonders of the love which Jesus showed to us.  In this time of the year, I am looking to celebrate the only one who “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:13-16).

Life Application:  Jesus, thank you for coming to earth in the form of a man.  Thank you that you took on the weight of my sin by dying on the cross.  Thank you for making me complete.  Help me to always return my focus to you, the true light. 

-Tyler Galloway 

Scripture

2 Peter 3:1

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Observation – What does it say?

Peter, in this letter he wrote to all believers everywhere, states his purpose for both letters. As one translation puts it, “to stir you up by way of reminder.” In other words, he wasn’t writing with some new information or breaking news to blow their minds. He was writing to remind them of things they already knew.

Understanding – What does it mean?

We don’t always need a new truth or new revelation. Sometimes, what is most necessary is for us to be reminded of something we’ve already heard or read or known. And the Holy Spirit will use that reminder to stir us up inside and get our minds focused in the right direction. 

Life Application

It’s easy to hear a sermon or open a passage of the Bible and start to half-listen or skim, thinking, “Oh, I’ve already heard this. I know where he’s going with this.” Or, “I’ve read this passage many times before and know it inside and out.” But as soon as we do, we close our spiritual ears and eyes and remove the possibility of God stirring us up. 

Possibly most harmful is doing this around the truths that are most central to our faith. If we aren’t careful, we become numb to phrases like, “God loves me,” “Jesus died on the cross,” “I’ve been forgiven of all my sins.” We experience little or no emotion around the most incredible truths in the universe! What a tragedy! 

This Christmas, that was my prayer; a request for God to open my eyes once again to see the power and great significance of Immanuel, God becoming man and dwelling among us. That God would restore my sensitivity where it’s been lost. And he’s begun to do so!

God, please forgive me! As I take time to remind myself and meditate on these great truths and promises, stir me up! Stir us up inside and change our thinking as you remind us of the truth. Amen.

– Levi Thompson

Merry Christmas everyone!

Scripture

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

Psalm 51:17 NIV

Observation-What does it say?

Psalm 51 is a very powerful one, as King David wrote it after being confronted by the prophet Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba. Please read 2 Samuel 12:1-13 for the full exchange between those two men. It basically led to David being convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent and Nathan assuring David that his sin has been put away. He will not die.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Do our mistakes lead us to Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow?

Godly sorrow leads us to repentance, true inward change of the heart. Worldly sorrow is sorrow that doesn’t lead to inward heart change because it is a momentary sorrow. It is typically a result of getting caught and not wanting to deal with the consequences of our sin. 

King David’s Psalm demonstrates true godly sorrow and repentance from his heart. Also, the consequences of his sin led to him to draw closer to the Lord, not further away. 

Life Application

Repent and be healed! Move on!  Go and sin no more, just like Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. (John 8:1-11)

As Bible.org states, “The tragic death of David’s son is a consequence of David’s sin, but it is NOT the penalty David deserves for his sin.”

There are consequences to sin. David and Bathsheba suffered the consequence of their sin, which was that they lost their son conceived as a result of their affair. However, King David’s response to that was quite humble. (Please see 2 Samuel 12:14-21).

Too many of us, after suffering the consequences of our sin, don’t move on. Consequences are meant to teach us, just like a parent who disciplines their child. However, it should train us to be stronger and better, not continue in the same unhealthy sinful cycle. David had his son by Bathsheba taken away as a consequence of his sin. Did he keep mourning after that? No. He moved on. 

Jesus came, died and resurrected to set us free to the guilt of our past. This Christmas and beyond, let’s truly live that out! The enemy no longer has a hold on us and his lies no longer have to keep us in bondage. We are conquerors because of Jesus, who is the reason why we celebrate today! 

Thank You Jesus for You, the most precious gift we could ever ask for. Amen! 

-Michelle Gaddi